U.S. patent application number 17/452036 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-10 for foldable electronic device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jinwan AN, Hyosung KANG, Minsoo KIM, Yongwoon KIM, Sangyup LEE, Myeongsil PARK, Kwangho SHIN.
Application Number | 20220043481 17/452036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005955726 |
Filed Date | 2022-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220043481 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHIN; Kwangho ; et
al. |
February 10, 2022 |
FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Abstract
According to various embodiments, an electronic device includes:
a hinge; a foldable housing including a first housing connected to
the hinge and has a first surface facing a first direction and a
second surface facing a second direction that is opposite to the
first direction, and a second housing connected to the hinge has a
third surface facing a third direction and a fourth surface facing
a fourth direction that is opposite to the third direction, and is
folded about the hinge to overlap the first housing ; a flexible
display disposed inside the foldable housing and extending from
above the first surface of the first housing onto the third surface
of the second housing ; and a touch panel disposed adjacent to the
flexible display, wherein the touch panel includes a first touch
panel disposed on the first surface and a second touch panel
disposed on the third surface.
Inventors: |
SHIN; Kwangho; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; KANG; Hyosung; (Suwon-si, KR) ; KIM;
Minsoo; (Suwon-si, KR) ; KIM; Yongwoon;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; PARK; Myeongsil; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; LEE; Sangyup; (Suwon-si, KR) ; AN;
Jinwan; (Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005955726 |
Appl. No.: |
17/452036 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/KR2020/005222 |
Apr 20, 2020 |
|
|
|
17452036 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1652 20130101;
G06F 3/04164 20190501; G06F 1/1656 20130101; G06F 2203/04111
20130101; G06F 1/1681 20130101; G06F 1/1616 20130101; G06F 3/0412
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16; G06F 3/041 20060101 G06F003/041 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 23, 2019 |
KR |
10-2019-0047546 |
Claims
1. An electronic device comprising: a hinge; a foldable housing
including; a first housing connected to the hinge and including a
first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing
a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a second
housing connected to the hinge, including a third surface facing a
third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction
opposite to the third direction, and configured to be folded with
the first housing around the hinge; a flexible display configured
to be viewed from an outside of at least one surface of the
foldable housing and extending from the first surface of the first
housing to the third surface of the second housing; and a touch
panel disposed adjacent to the flexible display, wherein the touch
panel includes a first touch panel disposed on the first surface of
the first housing and a second touch panel disposed on the third
surface of the second housing, and wherein each of the first touch
panel and the second touch panel includes: a first layer on which a
pattern is formed, a second layer on which a pattern different from
the pattern formed on the first layer is formed, and a third layer
electrically connected to the pattern of the second layer.
2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the pattern formed on
the first layer is electrically connected to the pattern formed on
the second layer, and a whole loop is formed by the pattern formed
on the first layer, the pattern formed on the second layer, and the
pattern formed on the third layer.
3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein in an unfolded status,
the first layer has, formed thereon, a conductive pattern facing a
fifth direction perpendicular to the first direction or the third
direction, and the second layer has, formed thereon, a conductive
pattern facing a sixth direction perpendicular to the fifth
direction and perpendicular to the first direction or the third
direction.
4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, in a folding region
of the foldable housing: the third layer is disposed on a rear
surface of the second layer facing the second direction for the
first touch panel and facing the fourth direction for the second
touch panel.
5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the first layer and
the second layer are formed to have substantially a same size as a
total size of the first touch panel or the second touch panel, and
wherein the third layer is formed with a size smaller than sizes of
the first layer and the second layer and extends adjacent to a
folding region of the foldable housing.
6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first layer, the
second layer and the third layer are stacked on the first surface
sequentially in the second direction from a top of the first touch
panel.
7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein: a plurality of first
via holes are formed adjacent to a folding region of the foldable
housing in the second layer, and a plurality of second via holes
are formed in the third layer at positions corresponding to
positions in which the plurality of first via holes are formed in
the second layer.
8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein a plurality of bridge
patterns formed on the third layer connect pairs of second via
holes among the plurality of second via holes.
9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second layer, the
first layer and the third layer are stacked on the first surface
sequentially in the second direction from a top of the first touch
panel.
10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein: a plurality of first
via holes are formed adjacent to a folding region of the foldable
housing in the second layer, a plurality of third via holes are
formed in the first layer adjacent to the folding region of the
foldable housing in positions corresponding to the first via holes
in the second layer, and a plurality of second via holes are formed
in the third layer in positions corresponding to the positions in
which the plurality of first via holes are formed in the second
layer and the positions in which the plurality of third via holes
are formed in the first layer.
11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein a plurality of
bridge patterns formed on the third layer connect a pair of second
via holes among the plurality of second via holes formed on the
third layer.
12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a first magnetic
shielding member is disposed on a rear surface of the first touch
panel, and a second magnetic shielding member is disposed on a rear
surface of the second touch panel.
13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein a first protection
member is disposed on a rear surface of the first magnetic
shielding member, and a second protection member is disposed on a
rear surface of the second magnetic shielding member.
14. The electronic device of claim 1, comprising a processor
disposed in the first housing or the second housing and
electrically connected to the flexible display and the touch
panel.
15. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a memory
operatively connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores
instructions that are configured to, when executed, cause the
processor to: independently process recognition of an input on the
first touch panel or the second touch panel, and determine levels
of signals input through the first touch panel and the second touch
panel together to perform the recognition in a folding region.
16. An electronic device may comprising: a hinge; a foldable
housing including: a first housing connected to the hinge and
including a first surface facing a first direction and a second
surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction;
and a second housing connected to the hinge, including a third
surface facing a third direction and a fourth surface facing a
fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and being folded
with the first housing around the hinge; a flexible display viewed
from an outside of at least one surface of the foldable housing and
extending from the first surface of the first housing to the third
surface of the second housing; a touch panel disposed adjacent to
the flexible display; and a processor disposed in the first housing
or the second housing and electrically connected to the display and
the touch panel, wherein the touch panel includes a first touch
panel disposed on the first surface of the first housing and a
second touch panel disposed on the third surface of the second
housing, wherein the first touch panel includes a first-first layer
on which a pattern is formed, a first-second layer on which a
pattern different from the pattern formed on the first-first layer
is formed, and a first-third layer electrically connected to the
pattern of the first-second layer by using at least two conductive
vias, and wherein the second touch panel includes a second-first
layer on which a pattern is formed, a second-second layer on which
a pattern different from the pattern formed on the second-first
layer, and a second-third layer electrically connected to the
pattern of the second-second layer by using at least two conductive
vias.
17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the first-first
layer and the first-second layer are formed with substantially the
same size as the entire size of the first touch panel, the
first-third layer is elongated adjacent to the folding region of
the foldable housing with an size smaller than that of the
first-first layer and the first-second layer, and the second-first
layer and the second-second layer are formed with substantially the
same size as the entire size of the second touch panel, and the
second-third layer is elongated adjacent to the folding region of
the foldable housing with an size smaller than that of the
second-first layer and the second-second layer, such that in the
unfolded status of the electronic device, the first-third layer and
the second-third layer are disposed spaced apart by a certain
distance to face each other.
18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the electronic
device further include: a plurality of bridge patterns connecting
two different conductive vias among the at least two conductive
vias may be formed in the first-third layer and the second-third
layer.
19. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: a first magnetic
shielding member is disposed on a rear surface of the first touch
panel, and a second magnetic shielding member is disposed on a rear
surface of the second touch panel.
20. The electronic device of claim 16, the electronic device may
further include: a memory operatively connected to the processor,
in which the memory includes instructions, when executed, for
causing the processor to independently process recognition of an
input on the first touch panel or the second touch panel and
determine levels of signals input through the first touch panel and
the second touch panel together to perform the recognition in a
folding region.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/KR2020/005222 filed on Apr. 20, 2020, which
claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0047546
filed on Apr. 23, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office,
the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
foldable electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] Electronic devices refer to devices that perform particular
functions according to installed programs, such as home appliances,
electronic notes, portable multimedia players (PMPs), mobile
communication terminals, tablet personal computers (PCs),
video/audio devices, desktop/laptop computers, vehicle navigation
systems, and so forth. For example, these electronic devices may
output stored information in an audio or video format. With the
increasing integration of electronic devices and the common use of
ultra-high-speed and large-volume wireless communication, various
functions have been recently installed in a single electronic
device such as a mobile communication terminal. For example, an
entertainment function such as games, a multimedia function such as
music/video playback, a communication and security function for
mobile banking, and a function such as schedule management or
electronic wallets as well as a communication function have been
integrated into a single electronic device. Such electronic devices
have been miniaturized to allow users to carry them
conveniently.
[0004] As mobile communication services are expanded to the
multimedia service area, users may use multimedia services as well
as voice calls or short messages through electronic devices. To
avoid inconvenience caused to users in using multimedia services,
electronic devices are increasingly equipped with large displays.
Moreover, in recent years, a foldable electronic device having a
flexible display disposed therein has been disclosed.
[0005] According to an embodiment, a foldable electronic device may
include a flexible display that is be typically designed to be
folded in a central portion thereof. A conventionally disclosed
touch panel (e.g., a digitizer panel) is designed without
considering that it is disposed adjacent to a flexible display
panel. For example, a rigid-type touch panel integrally extending
from a rear surface of the display panel may be disposed to
continuously recognize an input of an input device in the entire
region of a display panel regardless of whether the electronic
device is folded.
[0006] The touch panel may generally include a plurality of
conductive patterns forming a conductive loop for forming a
magnetic field, and the touch panel may have a structure vulnerable
to a physical shock or force applied thereto. In the electronic
device including the touch panel, when a folding operation is
repeatedly performed, various types of damages (e.g., cracks,
ruptures) of the touch panel may occur in a portion corresponding
to a folding region of the flexible display panel.
[0007] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
there is provided a foldable electronic device. An electronic
device according to the present disclosure may provide a display
including a display panel and a touch panel disposed adjacent to a
flexible display panel. According to various embodiments of the
present disclosure, there is provided a touch-panel mounting
structure preventing a damage of a touch panel in a portion
corresponding to a folding region of the flexible display
panel.
[0008] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
there is provided a foldable electronic device including a touch
panel formed to continuously recognize an input made by an input
device in a folding region of a display.
SUMMARY
[0009] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
an electronic device includes a hinge; a foldable housing including
a first housing connected to the hinge and including a first
surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a
second direction opposite to the first direction; and a second
housing connected to the hinge, including a third surface facing a
third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction
opposite to the third direction, and being folded with the first
housing around the hinge; a flexible display viewed from an outside
of at least one surface of the foldable housing and extending from
the first surface of the first housing to the third surface of the
second housing ; and a touch panel disposed adjacent to the
flexible display, in which the touch panel includes a first touch
panel disposed on the first surface of the first housing and a
second touch panel disposed on the third surface of the second
housing, and each of the first touch panel and the second touch
panel includes a first layer on which a pattern is formed, a second
layer on which a pattern different from the pattern formed on the
first layer is formed, and a third layer electrically connected to
the pattern of the second layer.
[0010] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
an electronic device includes a hinge; a foldable housing including
a first housing connected to the hinge and including a first
surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a
second direction opposite to the first direction; and a second
housing connected to the hinge, including a third surface facing a
third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction
opposite to the third direction, and being folded with the first
housing around the hinge; a display panel viewed from an outside of
at least one surface of the foldable housing and extending from the
first surface of the first housing to the third surface of the
second housing; a touch panel disposed adjacent to the display
panel; and a processor disposed in the first housing or the second
housing and electrically connected to the display panel and the
touch panel, in which the touch panel includes a first touch panel
disposed on the first surface of the first housing and a second
touch panel disposed on the third surface of the second housing, in
which the first touch panel includes a first-first layer on which a
pattern is formed, a first-second layer on which a pattern
different from the pattern formed on the first-first layer is
formed, and a first-third layer electrically connected to the
pattern of the first-second layer by using at least two conductive
vias, and the second touch panel includes a second-first layer on
which a pattern is formed, a second-second layer on which a pattern
different from the pattern formed on the second-first layer, and a
second-third layer electrically connected to the pattern of the
second-second layer by using at least two conductive vias.
[0011] An electronic device according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure may include touch panels respectively in a first
housing and a second housing forming a foldable housing, thereby
preventing a damage of the touch panels in a folding region.
[0012] The electronic device according to various embodiments of
the present disclosure may include a separate layer (e.g., a third
layer) to form a conductive loop pattern in adjacent to facing
portions of different touch panels, thus securing recognition
performance of a dual-type touch panel for an input device.
[0013] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be
advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases
used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and
"comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without
limitation; the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or; the
phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as
derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within,
interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or
with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with,
interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have,
have a property of, or the like; and the term "controller" means
any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one
operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware
or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It
should be noted that the functionality associated with any
particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether
locally or remotely.
[0014] Moreover, various functions described below can be
implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of
which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in
a computer readable medium. The terms "application" and "program"
refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets
of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes,
instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for
implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The
phrase "computer readable program code" includes any type of
computer code, including source code, object code, and executable
code. The phrase "computer readable medium" includes any type of
medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only
memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a
compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of
memory. A "non-transitory" computer readable medium excludes wired,
wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport
transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer
readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored
and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a
rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.
[0015] Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided
throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art
should understand that in many, if not most instances, such
definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined
words and phrases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure
and its advantages, reference is now made to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference numerals represent like parts:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a
network environment, according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an unfolded status of an
electronic device, according to various embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a folded status of an electronic
device, according to various embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an electronic
device, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing an example of a fully
unfolded status of an electronic device, according to some
embodiments;
[0022] FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing an example of a
partially unfolded, intermediate status of an electronic device,
according to some embodiments;
[0023] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view showing a side surface of
an example of a fully unfolded status of a display part, according
to some embodiments;
[0024] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing a side surface of
an example of a partially unfolded, intermediate status of a
display part, according to some embodiments;
[0025] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a
side cross-section of an electronic device in a fully unfolded
status, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a
side cross-section of an electronic device in a partially unfolded,
intermediate status, according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an
unfolded status of a display part, according to various embodiments
of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an
example of a touch panel, according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 9B is a front view schematically showing an example of
a touch panel, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 9C is a front view schematically showing an example of
a touch panel, according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 10A is an exploded perspective view showing a touch
panel on which a conductive pattern is formed, according to various
embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 10B is an exploded perspective view showing a touch
panel on which a conductive pattern is formed, according to various
embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a status in which
conductive patterns are aligned when two touch panels are disposed
adjacent to each other, according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a touch
panel on which a conductive pattern is formed, according to an
embodiment that is different from that of FIG. 10;
[0035] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a status in which two
touch panels are disposed adjacent to each other, according to
various embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an input method with
respect to an electronic device using an input device, according to
various embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 15 is a conceptual view showing a method of recognizing
an input of an input device in a certain region (e.g., a first
region) of a display, according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 16 is a conceptual view showing a method of recognizing
an input of an input device in a folding region of a display,
according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; and
[0039] FIGS. 17A-17D are perspective views showing unfolded
statuses and partially unfolded, intermediate statuses of an
electronic device including a single touch panel and an electronic
device including a dual-touch panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] FIGS. 1 through 17, discussed below, and the various
embodiments used to describe the principles of the present
disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only
and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the
disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the
principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any
suitably arranged system or device.
[0041] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic device 101
in a network environment 100, according to various embodiments.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 101 in the
network environment 100 may communicate with an electronic device
102 via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range wireless
communication network), or an electronic device 104 or a server 108
via a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range wireless communication
network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may
communicate with the electronic device 104 via the server 108.
According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may include a
processor 120, memory 130, an input device 150, a sound output
device 155, a display device 160, an audio module 170, a sensor
module 176, an interface 177, a haptic module 179, a camera module
180, a power management module 188, a battery 189, a communication
module 190, a subscriber identification module (SIM) 196, or an
antenna module 197. In some embodiments, at least one (e.g., the
display device 160 or the camera module 180) of the components may
be omitted from the electronic device 101, or one or more other
components may be added in the electronic device 101. In some
embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as a single
integrated circuitry. For example, the sensor module 176 (e.g., a
fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may
be implemented as embedded in the display device 160 (e.g., a
display).
[0043] The processor 120 may execute, for example, software (e.g.,
a program 140) to control at least one other component (e.g., a
hardware or software component) of the electronic device 101
connected to the processor 120, and may perform various data
processing or computation. According to an embodiment, as at least
part of the data processing or computation, the processor 120 may
load a command or data received from another component (e.g., the
sensor module 176 or the communication module 190) in volatile
memory 132, process the command or the data stored in the volatile
memory 132, and store resulting data in non-volatile memory 134.
According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may include a main
processor 121 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an
application processor (AP)), and an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g.,
a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP),
a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor (CP)) that is
operable independently from, or in conjunction with, the main
processor 121. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary
processor 123 may be adapted to consume less power than the main
processor 121, or to be specific to a specified function. The
auxiliary processor 123 may be implemented as separate from, or as
part of the main processor 121.
[0044] The auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of
functions or states related to at least one component (e.g., the
display device 160, the sensor module 176, or the communication
module 190) among the components of the electronic device 101,
instead of the main processor 121 while the main processor 121 is
in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main
processor 121 while the main processor 121 is in an active state
(e.g., executing an application). According to an embodiment, the
auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an ISP or a CP) may be implemented
as part of another component (e.g., the camera module 180 or the
communication module 190) functionally related to the auxiliary
processor 123.
[0045] The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one
component (e.g., the processor 120 or the sensor module 176) of the
electronic device 101. The data may include, for example, software
(e.g., the program 140) and input data or output data for a command
related thereto. The memory 130 may include the volatile memory 132
or the non-volatile memory 134.
[0046] The program 140 may be stored in the memory 130 as software,
and may include, for example, an operating system (OS) 142,
middleware 144, or an application 146.
[0047] The input device 150 may receive a command or data to be
used by other component (e.g., the processor 120) of the electronic
device 101, from an outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device
101. The input device 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a
mouse, a keyboard, or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).
[0048] The sound output device 155 may output sound signals to the
outside of the electronic device 101. The sound output device 155
may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may
be used for general purposes, such as playing multimedia or playing
record, and the receiver may be used for an incoming calls.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the receiver
may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker.
[0049] The display device 160 may visually provide information to
the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device 101. The
display device 160 may include, for example, a display, a hologram
device, or a projector and control circuitry to control a
corresponding one of the display, the hologram device, and the
projector. According to an embodiment, the display device 160 may
include touch circuitry adapted to detect a touch, or sensor
circuitry (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure the
intensity of force incurred by the touch.
[0050] The audio module 170 may convert a sound into an electrical
signal or vice versa. According to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the audio module 170 may obtain the sound via the input
device 150, or output the sound via the sound output device 155 or
a headphone of an external electronic device (e.g., an electronic
device 102) directly or wirelessly coupled with the electronic
device 101.
[0051] The sensor module 176 may detect an operational state (e.g.,
power or temperature) of the electronic device 101 or an
environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) external to the
electronic device 101, and then generate an electrical signal or
data value corresponding to the detected state. According to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, the sensor module 176 may
include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an
atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration
sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an
infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a
humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.
[0052] The interface 177 may support one or more specified
protocols to be used for the electronic device 101 to be coupled
with the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device
102) directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly. According to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, the interface 177 may
include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface
(HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital
(SD) card interface, or an audio interface.
[0053] A connecting terminal 178 may include a connector via which
the electronic device 101 may be physically connected with the
external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102).
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the
connecting terminal 178 may include, for example, a HDMI connector,
a USB connector, a SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g.,
a headphone connector).
[0054] The haptic module 179 may convert an electrical signal into
a mechanical stimulus (e.g., a vibration or motion) or electrical
stimulus which may be recognized by a user via his tactile
sensation or kinesthetic sensation. According to an embodiment of
the present disclosure, the haptic module 179 may include, for
example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric
stimulator.
[0055] The camera module 180 may capture a still image or moving
images. According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 may
include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors,
or flashes.
[0056] The power management module 188 may manage power supplied to
the electronic device 101. According to one embodiment, the power
management module 188 may be implemented as at least part of, for
example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).
[0057] The battery 189 may supply power to at least one component
of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the
battery 189 may include, for example, a primary cell which is not
rechargeable, a secondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel
cell.
[0058] The communication module 190 may support establishing a
direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless
communication channel between the electronic device 101 and the
external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 102, the
electronic device 104, or the server 108) and performing
communication via the established communication channel. The
communication module 190 may include one or more communication
processors that are operable independently from the processor 120
(e.g., the AP) and supports a direct (e.g., wired) communication or
a wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the
communication module 190 may include a wireless communication
module 192 (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range
wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite
system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module
194 (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a
power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of
these communication modules may communicate with the external
electronic device via the first network 198 (e.g., a short-range
communication network, such as Bluetooth.TM., Wireless-Fidelity
(Wi-Fi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or the second
network 199 (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a
cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or
wide area network (WAN)). These various types of communication
modules may be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single
chip), or may be implemented as multi components (e.g., multi
chips) separate from each other. The wireless communication module
192 may identify and authenticate the electronic device 101 in a
communication network, such as the first network 198 or the second
network 199, using subscriber information (e.g., international
mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber
identification module 196.
[0059] The antenna module 197 may transmit or receive a signal or
power to or from the outside (e.g., the external electronic
device). According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may
include an antenna including a radiating element composed of a
conductive material or a conductive pattern formed in or on a
substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)). According to an
embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include a plurality of
antennas. In such a case, at least one antenna appropriate for a
communication scheme used in the communication network, such as the
first network 198 or the second network 199, may be selected, for
example, by the communication module 190 from the plurality of
antennas. The signal or the power may then be transmitted or
received between the communication module 190 and the external
electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According
to an embodiment, another component (e.g., a radio frequency
integrated circuit (RFIC)) other than the radiating element may be
additionally formed as part of the antenna module 197.
[0060] At least some of the above-described components may be
coupled mutually and communicate signals (e.g., commands or data)
therebetween via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a
bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral
interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface
(MIPI)).
[0061] According to an embodiment, commands or data may be
transmitted or received between the electronic device 101 and the
external electronic device 104 via the server 108 coupled with the
second network 199. Each of the electronic devices 102 and 104 may
be a device of a same type as, or a different type, from the
electronic device 101. According to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, all or some of operations to be executed at the
electronic device 101 may be executed at one or more of the
external electronic devices 102, 104, or 108. For example, when the
electronic device 101 should perform a function or a service
automatically, or in response to a request from a user or another
device, the electronic device 101, instead of, or in addition to,
executing the function or the service, may request the one or more
external electronic devices to perform at least part of the
function or the service. The one or more external electronic
devices receiving the request may perform the at least part of the
function or the service requested, or an additional function or an
additional service related to the request, and transfer an outcome
of the performing to the electronic device 101. The electronic
device 101 may provide the outcome, with or without further
processing of the outcome, as at least part of a reply to the
request. To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, or
client-server computing technology may be used, for example.
[0062] The electronic device according to various embodiments
disclosed herein may be one of various types of electronic devices.
The electronic devices may include, for example, a portable
communication device (e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a
portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a
wearable device, or a home appliance. According to an embodiment of
the disclosure, the electronic devices are not limited to those
described above.
[0063] It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the
present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to
limit the technological features set forth herein to particular
embodiments and include various changes, equivalents, or
replacements for a corresponding embodiment. With regard to the
description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used
to refer to similar or related elements. It is to be understood
that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include
one or more of the things, unless the relevant context clearly
indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of such phrases as "A or
B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B, or
C," "at least one of A, B, and C," and "at least one of A, B, or
C," may include all possible combinations of the items enumerated
together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As used herein,
such terms as "1st" and "2nd," or "first" and "second" may be used
to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and
does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance or
order). It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first
element) is referred to, with or without the term "operatively" or
"communicatively", as "coupled with," "coupled to," "connected
with," or "connected to" another element (e.g., a second element),
it means that the element may be coupled with the other element
directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.
[0064] As used herein, the term "module" may include a unit
implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may
interchangeably be used with other terms, for example, "logic,"
"logic block," "part," or "circuitry". A module may be a single
integral component, or a minimum unit or part thereof, adapted to
perform one or more functions. For example, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, the module may be implemented
in a form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
[0065] Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented
as software (e.g., the program 140) including one or more
instructions that are stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal
memory 136 or external memory 138) that is readable by a machine
(e.g., the electronic device 101). For example, a processor (e.g.,
the processor 120) of the machine (e.g., the electronic device 101)
may invoke at least one of the one or more instructions stored in
the storage medium, and execute it, with or without using one or
more other components under the control of the processor. This
allows the machine to be operated to perform at least one function
according to the at least one instruction invoked. The one or more
instructions may include a code generated by a complier or a code
executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium
may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium.
Wherein, the term "non-transitory" simply means that the storage
medium is a tangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g.,
an electromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate
between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium
and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium.
[0066] According to an embodiment, a method according to various
embodiments of the disclosure may be included and provided in a
computer program product. The computer program product may be
traded as a product between a seller and a buyer. The computer
program product may be distributed in the form of a
machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read only
memory (CD-ROM)), or be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded)
online via an application store (e.g., Play Store.TM.), or between
two user devices (e.g., smart phones) directly. When distributed
online, at least part of the computer program product may be
temporarily generated or at least temporarily stored in the
machine-readable storage medium, such as memory of the
manufacturer's server, a server of the application store, or a
relay server.
[0067] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a
module or a program) of the above-described components may include
a single entity or multiple entities. According to various
embodiments, one or more of the above-described components may be
omitted, or one or more other components may be added.
Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g.,
modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In
such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more
functions of each of the plurality of components in the same or
similar manner as they are performed by a corresponding one of the
plurality of components before the integration. According to
various embodiments, operations performed by the module, the
program, or another component may be carried out sequentially, in
parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the
operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, or one
or more other operations may be added.
[0068] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an unfolded status of the
electronic device 101, according to various embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a folded status of
the electronic device 101, according to various embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0069] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in an embodiment, the electronic
device 101 may include a foldable housing 300, a hinge cover 330
covering a foldable portion of the foldable housing 300, and a
flexible or foldable display 200 (hereinafter, a "display" 200 for
short) (e.g., the display device 160 of FIG. 1) disposed in a space
formed by the foldable housing 300. According to an embodiment, a
surface on which the display 200 is disposed (or a surface where
the display 200 is seen from an outside of the electronic device
101) may be defined as a front surface of the electronic device
101. A surface opposite to the front surface may be defined as a
rear surface of the electronic device 101. A surface surrounding a
space between the front surface and the rear surface may be defined
as a side surface of the electronic device 101.
[0070] According to various embodiments, the foldable housing 300
may include a first housing 310, a second housing 320 including a
sensor region 324, a first rear cover 380, and a second rear cover
390, and a hinge (e.g., a hinge 510 of FIG. 4 to be described
later). The foldable housing 300 of the electronic device 101 may
not be limited to the shape and coupling shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
and may be implemented by a combination and/or coupling of other
shapes or parts. For example, in another embodiment, the first
housing 310 and the first rear cover 380 may be integrally formed,
and the second housing 320 and the second rear cover 390 may be
integrally formed.
[0071] According to various embodiments, the first housing 310 may
be connected to a hinge (e.g., the hinge 510 of FIG. 4 to be
described later), and may include a first surface facing a first
direction (e.g., a first surface 311 of FIG. 4 to be described
later) and a second surface (e.g., a second surface 312 of FIG. 4
to be described later) facing a second direction opposite to the
first direction. The second housing 320 may be connected to the
hinge 510, may include a third surface facing a third direction
(e.g., a third surface 321 of FIG. 4 to be described later) and a
fourth surface (e.g., a fourth surface 322 of FIG. 4 to be
described later) facing a fourth direction opposite to the third
direction, may rotate with respect to the first housing 310 around
the hinge 510 (or a hinge shaft 700). The electronic device 101 may
be changed to a folded status or an unfolded status, which will be
described later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0072] According to an embodiment, in the electronic device 101,
the first surface may face the third surface in a fully folded
status, and the third direction may be the same as the first
direction in a fully unfolded status.
[0073] According to various embodiments, the first housing 310 and
the second housing 320 may be disposed on opposite sides around a
folding axis A and may have a shape globally symmetrical to the
folding axis A. As will be described later, the first housing 310
and the second housing 320 may have different angles or distances
from each other, according to whether the status of the electronic
device 101 is the unfolded status, the folded status, or the
partially unfolded (or partially folded), intermediate status.
According to an embodiment, unlike the first housing 310, the
second housing 320 may further include the sensor region 324 in
which various sensors are disposed, but may have a mutually
symmetrical shape in other regions.
[0074] According to various embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the
first housing 310 and the second housing 320 may form a recess
accommodating the display 200, together. According to an
embodiment, due to the sensor region 324, the recess may have two
or more different widths in a direction perpendicular to the
folding axis A.
[0075] According to an embodiment, the recess may have a first
width w1 between a first portion 310a parallel to the folding axis
A in the first housing 310 and a first portion 320a formed in a
periphery of the sensor region 324 in the second housing 320. The
recess may have a second width w2 between a second portion 310b of
the first housing 310 and a second portion 320b parallel to the
folding axis A without corresponding to the sensor region 324 in
the second housing 320. In this case, the second width w2 may be
greater than the first width w1. In another example, the first
portion 310a of the first housing 310 and the first portion 320a of
the second housing 320 having mutually asymmetrical shapes may form
the first width w1 of the recess, and the second portion 310b of
the first housing 310 and the second portion 320b of the second
housing 320 having mutually symmetrical shapes may form the second
width w2 of the recess. According to an embodiment, the first
portion 320a and the second portion 320b of the second housing 320
may have different distances from the folding axis A. A width of
the recess is not limited to the illustrated example. In another
example, the recess may have a plurality of widths due to the shape
of the sensor region 324 or a portion having the asymmetrical
shapes of the first housing 310 and the second housing 320.
[0076] According to various embodiments, at least a portion of the
first housing 310 and the second housing 320 may be formed of a
metal material or a non-metal material having a rigidity of a
magnitude selected to support the display 200. At least a portion
formed of the metal material may provide a ground plane for the
electronic device 101, and may be electrically connected to a
ground line formed on a PCB (e.g., a board unit 520 of FIG. 4).
[0077] According to various embodiments, the sensor region 324 may
be formed to have a certain region in adjacent to one corner of the
second housing 320. However, the arrangement, shape, and size of
the sensor region 324 are not limited to the illustrated example.
For example, in another embodiment, the sensor region 324 may be
provided at another corner of the second housing 320 or in any
region between top and bottom corners. In one embodiment,
components for performing various functions embedded in the
electronic device 101 may be exposed to the front surface of the
electronic device 101 through the sensor region 324 or through one
or more openings provided in the sensor region 324. In various
embodiments, the components may include various types of sensors.
The sensor may include, for example, at least one of a front
camera, a receiver, or a proximity sensor.
[0078] According to various embodiments, the first rear cover 380
may be disposed on one side of the folding axis A on the rear
surface of the electronic device 101 and may have, for example, a
substantially rectangular periphery surrounded by the first housing
310. Similarly, the second rear cover 390 may be disposed on the
other side of the folding axis A on the rear surface of the
electronic device 101 and may have a periphery surrounded by the
second housing 320.
[0079] According to various embodiments, the first rear cover 380
and the second rear cover 390 may have substantially symmetrical
shapes with respect to the folding axis A. However, the first rear
cover 380 and the second rear cover 390 may not necessarily have
mutually symmetrical shapes, and in another embodiment, the
electronic device 101 may include the first rear cover 380 and the
second rear cover 390 having various shapes. In another embodiment,
the first rear cover 380 may be formed integrally with the first
housing 310, and the second rear cover 390 may be formed integrally
with the second housing 320.
[0080] According to various embodiments, the first rear cover 380,
the second rear cover 390, the first housing 310, and the second
housing 320 may form a space in which various components of the
electronic device 101 (e.g., a PCB or a battery) may be placed.
According to an embodiment, one or more components may be disposed
on or visually exposed to the rear surface of the electronic device
101. For example, at least a portion of a sub-display may be
visually exposed through a first rear region 382 of the first rear
cover 380. In another embodiment, one or more components or sensors
may be visually exposed through a second rear region 392 of the
second rear cover 390. In various embodiments, the sensor may
include a proximity sensor and/or a rear camera.
[0081] According to various embodiments, a front camera exposed to
the front surface of the electronic device 101 through one or more
openings provided in the sensor region 324 or a rear camera exposed
through the second rear region 392 of the second rear cover 390 may
include one lens or a plurality of lenses, an image sensor, and/or
an ISP. A flash may include, for example, a light-emitting diode or
a xenon lamp. In an embodiment, two or more lenses (an IR camera, a
wide-angle lens, and a telephoto lens) and image sensors may be
disposed on a surface of the electronic device 101.
[0082] Referring to FIG. 3, the hinge cover 330 may be disposed
between the first housing 310 and the second housing 320 to cover
internal components (e.g., the hinge 510 of FIG. 4 described
later). According to an embodiment, the hinge cover 330 may be
covered by a portion of the first housing 310 and the second
housing 320 or may be exposed to the outside, according to the
state of the electronic device 101 (the unfolded status, the
intermediate status, or the folded status).
[0083] According to an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when the
electronic device 101 is in the unfolded status (e.g., the fully
unfolded status), the hinge cover 330 may not be exposed by being
covered with the first housing 310 and the second housing 320. In
another example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the electronic device 101
is in the folded status (e.g., the fully folded status), the hinge
cover 330 may be exposed to the outside between the first housing
310 and the second housing 320. In another example, in the
intermediate status where the first housing 310 and the second
housing 320 are folded with a certain angle, the hinge cover 330
may be partially exposed to the outside between the first housing
310 and the second housing 320. However, in this case, the exposed
region may be smaller than in the fully folded status. In an
embodiment, the hinge cover 330 may include a curved surface.
[0084] According to various embodiments, the display 200 may be
disposed on a space formed by the foldable housing 300. For
example, the display 200 may be seated in a recess formed by the
foldable housing 300 and may be seen from the outside through the
front surface of the electronic device 101. For example, the
display 200 may form most of the front surface of the electronic
device 101. Thus, the front surface of the electronic device 101
may include the display 200 and a partial region of the first
housing 310 and a partial region of the second housing 320, which
are adjacent to the display 200. The rear surface of the electronic
device 101 may include the first rear cover 380, the partial region
of the first housing 310, which is adjacent to the first rear cover
380, the second rear cover 390, and a partial region of the second
housing 320, which is adjacent to the second rear cover 390.
[0085] According to various embodiments, the display 200 may refer
to a display in which at least a partial region may be transformed
into a flat surface or a curved surface. According to an
embodiment, the display 200 may include the folding region 203, a
first region 201 disposed on one side (e.g., the left side of the
folding region 203 shown in FIG. 2) with respect to the folding
region 203, and a second region 202 disposed on the other side
(e.g., the right side of the folding region 203 shown in FIG.
2).
[0086] However, region division of the display 200 shown in FIG. 2
is an example, and the display 200 may be divided into a plurality
of (e.g., four or more or two) regions depending on a structure or
a function. For example, the display 200 may be region-divided by
the folding region 203 extending in parallel to a y-axis or by the
folding axis A in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, but the display
200 may be region-divided based on another folding region (e.g., a
folding region parallel to an x-axis) or another folding axis
(e.g., a folding axis parallel to the x-axis) in another
embodiment.
[0087] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the display 200 may be coupled to or disposed adjacent to a touch
panel (e.g., the touch panel 210 of FIG. 6 described later)
including a touch sensing circuit and a pressure sensor capable of
measuring a strength (a pressure) of a touch. For example, the
display 200 may be coupled to or disposed adjacent to a touch panel
detecting a stylus pen of an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) type,
as an example of the touch panel 210.
[0088] According to various embodiments, the first region 201 and
the second region 202 may have globally symmetrical shapes around
the folding region 203. However, the second region 202, unlike the
first region 201, may include a notch that is cut depending on
presence of the sensor region 324, but may have a shape symmetrical
to the first region 201 in the other regions. In other words, the
first region 201 and the second region 202 may include portions
having mutually symmetrical shapes and portions having mutually
asymmetrical shapes.
[0089] Hereinbelow, operations of the first housing 310 and the
second housing 320 and regions of the display 200 based on the
status of the electronic device 101 (e.g., the folded status, the
unfolded status, or the intermediate status) will be described.
[0090] According to various embodiments, when the electronic device
101 is in the unfolded status (e.g., FIG. 2), the first housing 310
and the second housing 320 may be disposed to be facing the same
direction while forming an angle of 180 degrees. A surface of the
first region 201 and a surface of the second region 202 of the
display 200 may form 180 degrees with each other, and may be facing
the same direction (e.g., in a direction toward the front surface
of the electronic device. The folding region 203 may form the same
plane as the first region 201 and the second region 202.
[0091] According to various embodiments, when the electronic device
101 is in the folded status (e.g., FIG. 3), the first housing 310
and the second housing 320 may be disposed to face each other. The
surface of the first region 201 and the surface of the second
region 202 of the display 200 may face each other while forming a
narrow angle (e.g., between 0 to 10 degrees). At least a portion of
the folding region 203 may include a curved surface having a
certain curvature.
[0092] According to various embodiments, when the electronic device
101 is in the intermediate status, the first housing 310 and the
second housing 320 may be disposed at a certain angle. The surface
of the first region 201 and the surface of the second region 202 of
the display 200 may form an angle greater than that in the folded
status and less than that in the unfolded status. The folding
region 203 may include a curved surface, at least a portion of
which has a certain curvature less than a curvature in the folded
status.
[0093] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic
device 101, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 4, in various embodiments, the electronic
device 101 may include the foldable housing 300, the display 200,
and the board unit 520. The foldable housing may include the first
housing 310, the second housing 320, a bracket assembly 400, the
first rear cover 380, the second rear cover 390, and the hinge
510.
[0095] According to various embodiments, the display 200 may
include a display panel (e.g., display panel 200c of FIG. 6) (e.g.,
a flexible display panel) and one or more plates or layers (e.g., a
support plate 240) on which the display panel 200c is seated. In an
embodiment, the support plate 240 may be disposed between the
display panel 200c and the bracket assembly 400. An adhesive
structure (not shown) may be positioned between the support plate
240 and the bracket assembly 400 to adhere the support plate 240 to
the bracket assembly 400.
[0096] According to various embodiments, the bracket assembly 400
may include a first bracket assembly 410 and a second bracket
assembly 420. Between the first bracket assembly 410 and the second
bracket assembly 420, the hinge 510 may be disposed and the hinge
cover 330 covering the hinge 510 may be disposed when the hinge 510
is viewed from the outside. In another example, a PCB (e.g., a
flexible printed circuit (FPC)) may be disposed to cross the first
bracket assembly 410 and the second bracket assembly 420.
[0097] According to various embodiments, the board unit 520 may
include a first main circuit board 521 disposed in the first
bracket assembly 410 side and a second main circuit board 522
disposed in the second bracket assembly 420 side. The first main
circuit board 521 and the second main circuit board 522 may be
disposed inside a space formed by the bracket assembly 400, the
first housing 310, the second housing 320, the first rear cover
380, and the second rear cover 390. Components for implementing
various functions of the electronic device 101 may be mounted on
the first main circuit board 521 and the second main circuit board
522.
[0098] According to various embodiments, the first housing 310 and
the second housing 320 may be assembled with each other to be
coupled to opposite sides of the bracket assembly 400 in a status
where the display 200 is coupled to the bracket assembly 400. For
example, the first housing 310 and the second housing 320 may be
coupled to the bracket assembly 400 by sliding in the opposite
sides of the bracket assembly 400.
[0099] According to an embodiment, the first housing 310 may
include the first surface 311, the second surface 312 facing a
direction opposite to the first surface 311, and the second housing
320 may include the third surface 321 and the fourth surface 322
facing a direction opposite to the third surface 321. According to
an embodiment, the first housing 310 may include a first rotation
support surface 313, and the second housing 320 may include a
second rotation support surface 323 corresponding to the first
rotation support surface 313. The first rotation support surface
313 and the second rotation support surface 323 may include curved
surfaces corresponding to the curved surface included in the hinge
cover 330.
[0100] According to an embodiment, when the electronic device 101
is in the unfolded state (e.g., the electronic device of FIG. 2),
the first rotation support surface 313 and the second rotation
support surface 323 may cover the hinge cover 330, such that the
hinge cover 330 may not be exposed to the rear surface of the
electronic device 101 or may be minimally exposed. In another
example, when the electronic device 101 is in the folded state
(e.g., the electronic device 101 of FIG. 3), the first rotation
support surface 313 and the second rotation support surface 323 may
rotate along the curved surface included in the hinge cover 330 to
maximally expose the hinge cover 330 to the rear surface of the
electronic device 101.
[0101] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the fully
unfolded status or the partially unfolded, intermediate status of
the electronic device 101, according to some embodiments.
Specifically, FIG. 5A shows the fully unfolded status of the
electronic device 101, and FIG. 5B shows the partially unfolded,
intermediate status of the electronic device 101. Referring to FIG.
5, the electronic device 101 may include the foldable housing 300
and the display 200. The electronic device 101 may be changed to
the folded status or the unfolded status. The electronic device 101
may be folded in two types of `in-folding` where the front surface
of the electronic device 101 forms an acute angle and `out-folding`
where the front surface of the electronic device 101 forms a dull
angle, when the electronic device 101 is viewed from a hinge-axis
direction (e.g., a direction parallel to the y-axis). For example,
the first surface (e.g., first surface 311 of FIG. 4) may face the
third surface (e.g., third surface 321 of FIG. 4) when the
electronic device 101 is folded in the in-folding type, and the
third direction may be the same as the first direction in the fully
unfolded status. Also, for example, when the electronic device 101
is folded in the out-folding type, a second surface (e.g., the
second surface 312 of FIG. 4) may face a fourth surface (e.g., the
fourth surface 322 of FIG. 4).
[0102] In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the
electronic device 101 may include a plurality of hinge axes (e.g.,
two parallel hinge axes including an axis A of FIG. 2 and the other
axis parallel to the axis A), and in this case, the electronic
device 101 may be folded in a `multi-folding` type in which the
in-folding type and the out-folding type are combined.
[0103] The in-folding type may refer to a status in which the
display 200 is not exposed to the outside in the fully folded
status. The out-folding type may refer to a status in which the
display 200 is exposed to the outside in the fully folded status.
FIG. 5B illustrates the partially unfolded, intermediate status in
a process where the electronic device 101 is in-folded.
[0104] Hereinbelow, a description will be made of a status where
the electronic device 101 is folded in the in-folding type for
convenience, but it should be noted that this description may also
be applied to a status in which the electronic device 101 is folded
in the out-folding type.
[0105] According to various embodiments, the display 200 may have a
rectangular shape with rounded corners and a very narrow bezel
region.
[0106] The flexible display 200 may include the first region 201
disposed in the first housing 310 and the second region 202
disposed in the second housing 320, in which the first region 201
and the second region 202 may be implemented in the same shape. A
boundary between the first region 201 and the second region 202 of
the electronic device 101 may be formed based on the folding region
203.
[0107] Other components of the electronic device 101 of FIG. 5 may
adopt the components of the electronic device 101 of FIGS. 1
through 4.
[0108] The user may perform an input operation through a part of a
body (e.g., a hand) on the first region 201 or the second region
202 or may perform an input operation using the input device
150.
[0109] Referring to FIG. 5, a hole 341 may be formed in a portion
of the foldable housing 300 of the electronic device 101, for
example, a portion of a side surface, according to various
embodiments of the present disclosure. According to various
embodiments, the foldable housing 300 may further include a
receiving space 342 exposed to the outside through the hole 341,
and the input device 150 (e.g., a stylus pen) may be inserted into
the electronic device 101 through the receiving space 342.
[0110] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a side surface of
an example of the fully unfolded status or the partially unfolded,
intermediate status of a display part, according to some
embodiments. Specifically, FIG. 6A may indicate a status in which
the display part is fully unfolded, and FIG. 6B may indicate a
status in which the display part is partially unfolded (or
partially folded).
[0111] The display part of the electronic device 101 may include a
component displaying a screen through the display 200 and a
component moving integrally with the display by being connected to
the display. Referring to FIG. 6A, the display part may include the
display panel 200c and the touch panel 210 disposed adjacent to the
display panel 200c.
[0112] According to some embodiments, the display 200 may include
the display panel 200c, a polarization layer 200b disposed on the
display panel 200c, and a window member 200a forming an exterior of
the display. The display panel 200c, the polarization layer b, and
the window member 200a may form one display 200 and may be formed
of a flexible material. Thus, when an external force is applied to
the display 200 shown in FIG. 6A, the display 200 may be bent as
shown in FIG. 6B. The electronic device 101 may detect an input
(e.g., an input from the user or an input made through the input
device 150 of FIG. 5) on a surface of the display 200 by using the
touch panel 210. Herein, the input recognizable by the touch panel
210 may include an input made using hovering as well as an input
made through a direct contact with the surface of the display 200.
According to an embodiment, the touch panel 210 may be formed with
substantially the same size as the display 200 and may be disposed
adjacent to the display 200. According to various embodiments, the
touch panel 210 may be disposed on a top surface or a rear surface
of the display 200. As an embodiment, FIG. 6 shows a status in
which the touch panel 210 is attached to the rear surface of the
display 200. In the following description, it should be noted that
a description is made based on the touch panel 210 being disposed
on the rear surface of the display 200 with reference to FIG. 6,
but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0113] According to an embodiment, the display 200 may be made of a
material that at least partially transmits radio waves or a
magnetic field. The display panel 200c and/or the touch panel 210
may be mounted on the display 200. Thus, the display 200 may be
used as an output device outputting a screen and an input device
having a touch screen function. The display panel 200c may include
a display element layer including at least one pixel(s) and a
thin-film transistor (TFT) layer connected to the display element
layer. According to various embodiments, the display panel 200c may
correspond to a panel such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a
light-emitting diode (LED), or an active matrix organic
light-emitting diode (AMOLED), and may display various images
corresponding to various operating statuses, application execution,
contents of the electronic device 101, etc.
[0114] According to various embodiments, as the touch panel 210,
various types of touch panels may be included. For example, various
types of touch panels, such as a capacitive touch panel sensing
changes in capacitance, a pressurized touch panel sensing a
position by sensing pressure acting on the panel, an optical touch
panel using infrared rays, and a transparent electrode type touch
panel using a contact point of a transparent conductive film, may
be used. In addition, various types of input position sensing
panels not mentioned above, such as an electromagnetic resonance
(EMR) type touch panel, may be used.
[0115] For example, when a digitizer panel is used as the touch
panel 210, the touch panel may include a pattern layer on which a
transmission pattern (e.g., a Tx pattern) is formed and a pattern
layer on which a reception pattern (e.g., an Rx pattern) is formed,
and these Tx pattern and Rx pattern may be stacked with each other
to generate/sense an electromagnetic field. According to an
embodiment, by using the digitizer panel, a magnetic field
generated from an electromagnetic inductor (an input device, for
example, a stylus pen) may be detected in the EMR type and various
motions such as approach, click, and drag of the electromagnetic
inductor may be detected.
[0116] According to various embodiments, the display part may
further include the magnetic shielding member 220 and the
protection member 230 on the rear surface of the touch panel 210.
According to an embodiment, the magnetic shielding member 220 may
be disposed on the rear surface of the touch panel 210. The
magnetic shielding member 220 may be made by applying, for example,
magnetic metal powder (MMP) to the rear surface of the touch panel
210. The electronic device 101 may shield a magnetic force of
peripheral parts (e.g., other electronic parts inside the foldable
housing 300), which may be recognized as noise except for a signal
input from the stylus pen, by using the magnetic shielding member
220.
[0117] According to an embodiment, the protection member 230 may be
further disposed on the rear surface of the touch panel 210. The
protection member 230 may include, for example, any one of at least
one adhesive layer, at least one cushion layer, and at least one
heat-dissipation layer, or a combination of at least two of the at
least one adhesive layer, the at least one cushion layer, and the
at least one heat- dissipation layer. Herein, the at least one
cushion layer may be such that for example, an emboss pattern is
formed to absorb a physical shock acting on the panel. The at least
heat-dissipation layer may be an element for dissipating heat
generated in the display panel 200c and/or the touch panel 210 to
an outside, and at least a part thereof may include a metal
material (e.g., graphite+copper (Cu) foil).
[0118] According to one embodiment, the magnetic shielding member
220 and/or the protection member 230 may be formed with
substantially the same area as the display panel 200c like the
touch panel 210, and may be attached to the rear surface of the
display panel 200c and may be used.
[0119] In the foregoing embodiments, the touch panel 210, the
magnetic shielding member 220, and/or the protection member 230 may
be vulnerable to a physical shock or an external force. Therefore,
when the display 200 is a flexible display, a bent portion C of the
touch panel 210, the magnetic shielding member 220, and/or the
protection member 230 disposed in the folding region of the display
200 may have various types of damages (e.g., cracks, ruptures)
after a certain period of use.
[0120] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a
side cross-section of the electronic device 101 in the unfolded
status, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a side
cross-section of the electronic device 101 in the partially
unfolded, intermediate status, according to various embodiments of
the present disclosure.
[0121] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B together, the electronic device
101 may include the foldable housing 300, the display panel 200c,
and the touch panel 210. According to various embodiments, the
foldable housing 300 and the display panel 200c may have the same
structure in part or entirely as the foldable housing 300 and the
display panel 200c of FIGS. 2 to 5.
[0122] According to various embodiments, the foldable housing 300
may include a hinge 510, the first housing 310, and the second
housing 320. The foldable housing 300 may be configured such that
the second housing 320 is rotatable with respect to the first
housing 310. Depending on a rotation operation, there may be the
folded status where the first housing 310 and the second housing
320 face each other, the unfolded status where the first housing
310 and the second housing 320 are unfolded in parallel, being
facing the same direction, or the intermediate status where the
first housing 310 and the second housing 320 maintain a specified
angle. FIG. 7A shows the unfolded status (e.g., a flat status), and
FIG. 7B shows the intermediate status.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 7A, the first housing 310 may include the
first surface 311 facing a first direction P1 and the second
surface 312 facing a second direction P2 that is opposite to the
first direction P1. The second housing 320 may include the third
surface 321 facing a third direction P3 and the fourth surface 322
facing a fourth direction P4 that is opposite to the third
direction P3. For reference, in FIG. 7A, the first direction P1 may
be parallel to a direction component Z shown in FIGS. 4 through
6.
[0124] The first direction P1 and the third direction P3 may form
an acute angle with each other through rotation (e.g., in-folding)
of the hinge 510. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the first
direction P1 and the third direction P3 may be perpendicular to
each other. In another example, the second direction P2 and the
fourth direction P4 may form a dull angle with each other through
rotation (e.g., out-folding) of the hinge 510.
[0125] In the foldable housing 300, the first surface 311 may face
the third surface 321 in the fully folded status using the
in-folding type, and the third direction P3 may be the same as the
first direction P1 in the fully unfolded status.
[0126] According to various embodiments, the electronic device 101
may further include a bracket assembly (e.g., the bracket assembly
400 of FIG. 4) supporting the display 200. While the bracket
assembly 400 is not shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the bracket assembly
400 may be disposed on the rear surface and/or the side surface of
the display 200 to surround and support at least a part of the
window member 200a and the display panel 200c. The bracket assembly
400 may include one or more plates on which the display 200 is
seated, and may be, for example, a sus plate made of a sus
material. According to an embodiment, the bracket assembly 400 may
be disposed between the display 200 and a rear plate (e.g., the
first rear cover 380 and the second rear cover 390 of FIG. 4). For
example, the bracket assembly 400 may include a first bracket
assembly (e.g., the first bracket assembly 410 of FIG. 4) and a
second bracket assembly (e.g., the second bracket assembly 420 of
FIG. 4) that are disposed spaced apart from each other. The first
bracket assembly 410 may be disposed to face the first surface 311
of the first housing 310, and the second bracket assembly 420 may
be disposed to face the third surface 321 of the second housing
320. According to one embodiment, the bracket assembly 400 may be
integrally formed with the foldable housing 300 of the present
disclosure, and may correspond to some of the components of the
foldable housing 300.
[0127] The display 200 may be disposed to face the front surface of
the electronic device 101 when the electronic device 101 is fully
unfolded, on the first surface 311 of the first housing 310 and the
third surface 321 of the second housing 320. Thus, the display 200
may be recognized through the front surface of the electronic
device 101, when viewed from the outside. As shown in FIG. 7A, the
display 200 may be viewed from the outside through at least one
surface of the foldable housing.
[0128] The first main circuit board 521 and the second main circuit
board 522 may be disposed inside the first housing 310 and the
second housing 320, respectively. The first main circuit board 521
and the second main circuit board 522 may be electrically connected
to each other by at least one FPCB 530 and/or a connector to
transmit/receive signals between them. According to an embodiment,
as shown in FIG. 7B, even when the electronic device 101 is
partially folded around the hinge shaft 700, the at least one FPCB
530 in the folding region may be designed to be flexibly bent.
[0129] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B together, the hinge 510 may
change relative position and angle between the first housing 310
and the second housing 320 in the folding process. During an
operation of the hinge 510, an internal mechanism of the folding
region including the hinge 510 may be covered by the hinge cover
513 (e.g., the hinge cover 330 of FIG. 3).
[0130] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the
unfolded status of the display part, according to various
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0131] According to various embodiments, the display 200 may extend
from the first surface (e.g., the first surface 311 in FIG. 7A) to
the third surface (e.g., the third surface 321 in FIG. 7A).
[0132] Referring to FIG. 8, the display 200 may include the window
member 200a, the polarization layer 200b, and the display panel
200c.
[0133] According to an embodiment, at least a part of the window
member 200a may be made of a substantially transparent material.
For example, the at least a part of the window member 200a may be
formed of a glass plate including various coating layers, or a
polymer plate. According to an embodiment, the polarization layer
200b may allow a screen displayed on the display panel 200c or
light of a specific wavelength in the amount of light incident on
the display panel 200c to pass therethrough. According to an
embodiment, the display panel 200c may be exposed through a
significant portion of the window member 200a.
[0134] The touch panel 210 and the magnetic shielding member 220
may be disposed under the display panel 200c. While the protection
member 230 is omitted for convenience of description in FIG. 8, the
following description including FIG. 8 may be applied to an
embodiment including the protection member 230.
[0135] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the touch panel 210 may be a dual-type touch panel. Two touch
panels 210 may be disposed under the display 200, and may be
disposed spaced apart by a certain distance with surfaces 210a and
210b facing each other with respect to the folding region of the
display 200, respectively. According to an embodiment, the magnetic
shielding member 220 may also be configured as a dual type, such
that the two magnetic shielding members 220 may be respectively
disposed under the two touch panels 210. FIG. 9A is a
cross-sectional view schematically showing an example of the touch
panel 210, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0136] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the dual-type touch panel 210 may include a first touch panel 211
disposed adjacent to a first surface (e.g., the first surface 311
of FIG. 7A) of a first housing (e.g., the first housing 310 of FIG.
7A) and a second touch panel 212 disposed adjacent to a third
surface (e.g., the third surface 321 of FIG. 7B) of a second
housing (e.g., the second housing 320 of FIG. 7B).
[0137] Each of the first touch panel 211 and the second touch panel
212 may include a plurality of layers. For example, the first touch
panel 211 may include a first layer 211a where a pattern (e.g., a
plurality of first conductive lines) is formed, and a second layer
211b where a pattern (e.g., a plurality of second conductive lines)
different from the pattern formed on the first layer 211a is
formed. The second touch panel 212 may also include a first layer
212a where a pattern is formed, and a second layer 212b where a
pattern different from the pattern formed on the first layer 212a
is formed. According to various embodiments, the first layer 211a
and the second layer 211b of the first touch panel 211 may be
referred to as a first-first layer and a first-second layer,
respectively, and the first layer 212a and the second layer 212b of
the second touch panel 212 may be referred to as a second-first
layer and a second-second layer, respectively.
[0138] According to various embodiments, on the first touch panel
211, a conductive pattern extending in a fifth direction
perpendicular to the first direction (e.g., a direction parallel to
the direction component Z of FIGS. 4 through 6) or the third
direction may be formed on the first layer 211a and a conductive
pattern extending in a sixth direction perpendicular to the fifth
direction may be formed in the same plane as a plane (e.g., a
virtual plane) to which the fifth direction belongs, on the second
layer 211b of the first touch panel 211.
[0139] According to various embodiments, the fifth direction and
the sixth direction may be formed to be oriented parallel to a
longitudinal direction (or a vertical direction) and a width
direction (or a horizontal direction) of the touch panel,
respectively. For example, the fifth direction may be a direction
parallel to a direction component Y of FIGS. 4 to 6, and the sixth
direction may be a direction parallel to a direction component X of
FIGS. 4 to 6. In describing various embodiments of the present
disclosure, it should be noted that although the fifth and sixth
directions are parallel to the direction components Y and X as a
main example, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited
thereto.
[0140] Referring to FIG. 9A, a plurality of Y-axis conductive
patterns Y may be formed on the first layer 211a of the first touch
panel 211. Also, although not shown in the cross-section of FIG.
9A, a plurality of X-axis conductive patterns X perpendicular to
the Y-axis may be formed on the second layer 211b. The plurality of
Y-axis conductive patterns Y may be a plurality of conductive
patterns elongated in a direction parallel to the direction
component Y. Likewise, the plurality of X-axis conductive patterns
X may be a plurality of conductive patterns elongated in a
direction parallel to the direction component Y. In the second
touch panel 212, the plurality of Y-axis conductive patterns Y may
be formed on the first layer 212a, and the plurality of X-axis
conductive patterns X perpendicular to the Y-axis may be formed on
the second layer 212b. In the above-described embodiments, the
plurality of Y-axis conductive patterns Y may be formed in parallel
to each other, and the plurality of X-axis conductive patterns X
may also be formed in parallel to each other.
[0141] According to an embodiment, for the first touch panel 211
and the second touch panel 212, the Y-axis conductive patterns Y
formed on the first layers 211a and 212a and the X-axis conductive
patterns X formed on the second layers 211b and 212b may be formed
stacked on adjacent layers. In addition, the Y-axis conductive
patterns Y formed on the first layers 211a and 212a and the X-axis
conductive patterns X formed on the second layers 211b and 212b may
form a conductive loop pattern as a whole by being electrically
connected through a conductive via (not shown). The conductive loop
pattern (loop) may generate a magnetic field inside a loop for an
input electrical signal, and thus may be defined as an EMR
coil.
[0142] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the first layers 211a and 212a may not necessarily have the Y-axis
conductive patterns Y and the second layers 211b and 212b may not
necessarily have the X-axis conductive patterns X. Unlike the
foregoing embodiment, the first layers 211a and 212a may have the
X-axis conductive patterns X and the second layers 211b and 212b
may have the Y-axis conductive patterns Y.
[0143] FIG. 9B is a front view schematically showing an example of
the touch panel 210, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 9C is a front view schematically showing an
example of the touch panel 210, according to another embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0144] According to an embodiment, conductive patterns having a
structure symmetrical to the first touch panel 211 around the
folding region may be formed on the second touch panel 212.
[0145] Referring to FIG. 9B, when the dual-type touch panel 210 is
adopted, a pattern formed on the second touch panel 212 may be
designed to be symmetrical to a pattern of the first touch panel
211 around the folding region to provide a uniform electromagnetic
field in a use environment of the electronic device (e.g.,
electronic device 101 of FIG. 7A). For example, when the first
layer 211a of the first touch panel 211 has the conductive patterns
Y that are parallel to the Y-axis (e.g., the Y-axis of FIG. 5), the
first layer 212a of the second touch panel 211 may also have the
conductive patterns Y that are parallel to the Y-axis (e.g., the
Y-axis of FIG. 5).
[0146] In another example, unlike shown in the drawing, the first
layer 211a of the first touch panel 211 may have conductive
patterns formed at an angle to the Y-axis (e.g., the Y-axis of FIG.
5). In this case, the first layer 212a of the second touch panel
211 may also have the conductive patterns Y that are formed
obliquely to the Y-axis and that are symmetrical to the patterns
formed on the first touch panel 211 around the folding region.
[0147] According to another embodiment, conductive patterns having
a structure asymmetrical around the folding region to the
conductive patterns formed on the first touch panel 211 may be
formed on the second touch panel 212. For example, referring to
FIG. 9C, a pattern structure formed to alternate with the pattern
formed on the first touch panel 211 around the folding region may
be provided in the second touch panel. The pattern formed on the
first touch panel 211 and the pattern formed on the second touch
panel 212 may be parallel to each other, but the pattern (or the
plurality of first conductive lines) formed on the first touch
panel 211 may be disposed to alternate with the pattern (or the
plurality of second conductive lines) formed on the second touch
panel 212. In this case, a distance between the pattern formed on
the first touch panel 211 and the pattern formed on the second
touch panel 212 may be further reduced, thereby improving an input
recognition rate in the vicinity of the folding axis A (or the
folding region 203 of FIG. 2).
[0148] For example, in the first touch panel 211 and the second
touch panel 212 according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure, a conductive via may be formed adjacent to the folding
axis A, and a minimum space that needs to be physically secured to
form a via hole may be required. As shown in FIG. 9B, a via 213
formed in an end portion of conductive patterns parallel to the
X-axis near the folding axis A in the first touch panel 211 and a
via 214 formed in an end portion of conductive patterns parallel to
the X-axis near the folding axis A in the second touch panel 212
may be formed in positions symmetrical to each other around the
folding axis A. Herein, the via 213 and the via 214 may be formed
spaced apart by a designated distance.
[0149] In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9B, referring to
FIG. 9C, a via 213' formed in an end portion of conductive patterns
parallel to the X-axis near the folding axis A in the first touch
panel 211 and a via 214' formed in an end portion of conductive
patterns parallel to the X-axis near the folding axis A in the
second touch panel 211 may be formed in positions alternating with
each other around the folding axis A. A distance between the via
213' and the via 214' may be shorter than a distance between the
via 213 and the via 214 according to the embodiment shown in FIG.
9B.
[0150] Referring to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C
together, conductive patterns symmetrical to each other around the
folding axis A may be provided in the first touch panel 211 and the
second touch panel 212, but by providing conductive patterns
alternately formed around the folding axis A according to the
embodiment, an input recognition rate in the folding region (e.g.,
the folding region 203 of FIG. 2) may be improved.
[0151] Meanwhile, referring back to FIG. 9A, the first touch panel
211 according to various embodiments may further include a third
layer 211c in addition to the first layer 211a where Y-axis (or
X-axis) conductive patterns are formed and the second layer 211b
where X-axis (or Y-axis) conductive patterns are formed. The third
layer 211c may be disposed adjacent to the folding region (e.g.,
the folding region 203 of FIG. 2) of the foldable housing (e.g.,
the foldable housing 300 of FIG. 2) on the rear surface of the
second layer 211b. The second touch panel 212 having a pattern
aspect symmetrical to the first touch panel 211 may also include a
third layer 212c. According to various embodiments, the third layer
211c of the first touch panel 211 may be referred to as a
first-third layer, and the third layer 212c of the second touch
panel 212 may be referred to as a second-third layer.
[0152] As the touch panel 210 further includes the third layers
211c and 212c, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in
conductive pattern designing of the first layers 211a and 212a and
the second layers 211b and 212b where the Y-axis or X-axis
conductive patterns are formed. For example, when the dual-type
touch panel 210 is used, the X-axis conductive pattern crossing the
touch panel 210 may be disconnected near the folding region, and
for this reason, in this vicinity, the density of the
electromagnetic field may be reduced compared to the single-type
touch panel 210. According to various embodiments of the present
disclosure, by further disposing the third layers 211c and 212c,
the X-axis conductive patterns may be formed as close as possible
to (or in close contact with) the edge region of the disconnected
portion of the first touch panel 211 and the second touch panel
212, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the density of the
electromagnetic field when the dual-type touch panel 210 is
used.
[0153] According to various embodiments, the first layers 211a and
212a and the second layers 211b and 212b may be formed to have
substantially the same size as a total size of the first touch
panel 211 or the second touch panel 212. And as shown in FIG. 9A,
the third layers 211c and 212c may be formed with a smaller size
than the first layers 211a and 212a and the second layers 211b and
212b in adjacent to the folding region of the foldable housing.
[0154] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the first
touch panel 211 on which a conductive pattern is formed, according
to various embodiments of the present disclosure. More
specifically, FIG. 10A shows the first touch panel 211 including
the first layer 211a, the second layer 212b, and the third layer
212c, and FIG. 10B simply shows the second layer 212b and the third
layer 212c of the first touch panel 211. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 10, Y-axis conductive patterns Y11, Y12, Y13, Y13', Y12', and
Y11' are formed on the first layer 211a, and X-axis conductive
patterns X11, X12, X13, X13', X12', and X11' are formed on the
second layer 211b. However, it should be noted that the Y-axis
conductive patterns and the X-axis conductive patterns shown in
FIG. 10 are merely examples of various conductive patterns and may
be applicable to other various embodiments.
[0155] Referring to FIG. 10A, the first layer 211a, the second
layer 211b, and the third layer 211c of the first touch panel 211
may be stacked sequentially from top on the first surface (e.g.,
first surface 311 of FIG. 7A) of the first housing (e.g., first
housing 310 of FIG. 7A). Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B together,
the third layer 211c may have a shape elongated in a longitudinal
direction (or a vertical direction) of the second layer 211b and
may be disposed under the second layer 211b. A plurality of first
via holes 213 may be formed adjacent to the folding region of the
foldable housing (e.g., foldable housing 300 of FIG. 5) in the
second layer 211b, and a plurality of second via holes 215 may be
formed in positions corresponding to positions in which the
plurality of first via holes 213 are formed, in the third layer
211c. According to an embodiment, conductive vias may be formed in
the first via hole 213 and the second via hole 215 to electrically
connect the second layer 211b to the third layer 211c. Moreover,
bridge patterns B1, B2, and B3 connecting two (a pair of) second
via holes among the plurality of second via holes 215 may be formed
on the third layer 211c.
[0156] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a status in which
conductive patterns are aligned when two touch panels 210 are
disposed adjacent to each other, according to various embodiments
of the present disclosure.
[0157] The embodiments described above with reference to FIG. 10
may be similarly applied to the second touch panel 212. The second
touch panel 212 may also include the third layer 212c under the
second layer 212b, and the third layer 212c of the second touch
panel 212 may be disposed to face the third layer 211c of the first
touch panel 211 near the folding region. A plurality of first via
holes 214 may be formed adjacent to the folding region of the
foldable housing (e.g., foldable housing 300 of FIG. 5) in the
second layer 212b of the second touch panel 212, and a plurality of
second via holes (not shown) may be formed in positions
corresponding to positions in which the plurality of first via
holes 214 are formed, in the third layer 212c.
[0158] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
one end of an X-axis conductive pattern formed on the second layers
211b and 212b may be connected to a bridge pattern formed on the
third layers 211c and 212c to form a loop structure. According to
various embodiments, one end of a Y-axis conductive pattern formed
on the first layers 211a and 212a may be connected to another end
of a Y-axis conductive pattern formed on the second layers 211b and
212b to form a loop structure. According to an embodiment, the
pattern formed on the first layers 211a and 212a, the pattern
formed on the second layers 211b and 212b, and the patterns formed
on the third layers 211c and 212c may be all electrically connected
to form a single conductive loop as a whole.
[0159] In the present disclosure, apart from the feature that the
X-axis conductive pattern and the Y-axis conductive pattern formed
on different layers form a single loop pattern as a whole, one end
of an X-axis conductive pattern formed on the second layers 211b
and 212b may be connected to a bridge pattern formed on the third
layers 211c and 212c to form a loop structure.
[0160] In the present disclosure, by further including the third
layers 211c and 212c having conductive patterns electrically
connected to the conductive patterns of the second layers 211b and
212b, the X-axis conductive pattern of the second layers 211b and
212b may maximally extend to an end portion of the touch panel 210
(e.g., one end portion 210a of the first touch panel and/or one end
portion 210b of the second touch panel in FIG. 9A), whereby
recognition performance of a dual-type touch panel may be
sufficiently secured.
[0161] In FIG. 11, the X-axis conductive patterns extending from
the other end portion 210c of the second layer 211b of the first
touch panel 211 to the one end portion 210a may be connected to the
bridge pattern formed on the third layer 211c, thus forming a loop
structure, respectively. The X-axis conductive patterns extending
from the other end portion 210d of the second layer 212b of the
second touch panel 212 to the one end portion 210b may be connected
to the bridge pattern formed on the third layer 212c, thus forming
a loop structure, respectively. As a result, by providing the third
layers 211c and 212c, the first touch panel 211 and the second
touch panel 212 may be disposed as close to each other as possible
while facing each other.
[0162] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a touch
panel (e.g., the first touch panel 211) on which a conductive
pattern is formed, according to an embodiment that is different
from that of FIG. 10.
[0163] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, Y-axis conductive
patterns Y11, Y12, Y13, Y13', Y12', and Y11' may be formed on the
first layer 211a, and X-axis conductive patterns X11, X12, X13,
X13', X12', and X11' may be formed on the second layer 211b.
However, referring to FIG. 12, the first touch panel 211 may be
stacked on a first surface (e.g., the first surface 311 of FIG. 7A)
of a first housing (e.g., the first housing 310 of FIG. 7A)
sequentially from top in order of the second layer 212b, the first
layer 211a, and then the third layer 211c.
[0164] In an embodiment of FIG. 12, the stacking order of layers
where the X-axis conductive pattern and the Y-axis conductive
pattern are formed may be different from that of FIG. 10. Herein,
the third layer 211c may not be disposed immediately adjacent to
the rear surface of the second layer 211b, but may be disposed with
the first layer 211a interposed between the second layer 211b and
the third layer 211c.
[0165] According to the embodiment of FIG. 12, a plurality of first
via holes 213 may be formed adjacent to a folding region (e.g., the
folding region 203 of FIG. 2) of a foldable housing (e.g., the
foldable housing 300 of FIG. 2) on the second layer 211b, and a
plurality of third via holes 217 may be formed in positions
adjacent to the folding region of the foldable housing and
corresponding to the plurality of first via holes 213 in the first
layer 211a. In the third layer 211c, a plurality of second via
holes 215 may be formed in positions corresponding to positions in
which the plurality of first via holes 213 and the plurality of
third via holes 217 are formed. According to an embodiment,
conductive vias may be formed in the first via holes 213, the third
via holes 217, and the second via holes 215, respectively, to be
electrically connected, such that the second layer 211b and the
third layer 211c may be electrically connected to each other. In
this case, like the embodiment of FIG. 10, the bridge patterns B1,
B2, and B3 connecting two (a pair of) second via holes among the
plurality of second via holes 215 may be formed on the third layer
211c.
[0166] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a status of the touch
panel 210 when two touch panels 211 and 212 are disposed adjacent
to each other, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0167] Y-axis conductive patterns may be formed spaced apart by a
certain distance in a width direction (or a horizontal direction)
of the touch panel 210, such that recognition performance may not
be affected by disconnection in the folding region of the touch
panel 210. However, X-axis conductive patterns may be formed spaced
apart by a certain distance in a length direction (or a vertical
direction) of the touch panel 210, such that they may not be
affected in terms of recognition performance corresponding to
disconnection in the folding region (e.g., the folding region 203
of FIG. 2) of the touch panel 210.
[0168] Referring to FIG. 13, even when the dual-type touch panel
210 is used, sensing intervals in the X-axis direction and the
Y-axis direction may be uniformly formed through an electronic
device (e.g., the electronic device 101 of FIG. 7A) according to
the present disclosure. The effect may be provided where the X-axis
conductive pattern substantially extends to the end portion (e.g.,
the end portions 210a and 210b of FIG. 8) of the touch panel by
using the third layer 211c and the via holes 213, 217, and 215 even
when the layer where the Y-axis conductive pattern is formed is
disposed under the layer where the X-axis conductive pattern is
formed. As the X-axis conductive pattern substantially extends to
the end portion (e.g., the end portions 210a and 210b of FIG. 8) of
the touch panel, an EMR sensing interval between the first touch
panel 211 and the second touch panel 212 may be reduced
maximally.
[0169] In an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 101 of
FIG. 7A) according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure, touch panels (e.g., the first touch panel 211 and the
second touch panel 212 of FIG. 9A) may be disposed in a first
housing (e.g., the first housing 310 of FIG. 7A) and a second
housing (e.g., the second housing 320 of FIG. 7A) constituting a
foldable housing (e.g., the foldable housing 300 of FIG. 7A),
respectively, thereby preventing damage of the touch panel in a
folding region (e.g., the folding region 203 of FIG. 2) and
sufficiently securing recognition performance in the folding region
of the dual-type touch panel.
[0170] When the electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 101
of FIG. 7A) according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure includes the magnetic shielding member 220 (e.g., an
MMP) shown in FIG. 8, according to an embodiment, the first
magnetic shielding member may be disposed on the rear surface of
the first touch panel (e.g., the first touch panel 211 of FIG. 9A)
and a second magnetic shielding member may be disposed on the rear
surface of the second touch panel (e.g., the second touch panel 212
of FIG. 9A), thereby preventing the magnetic shielding member from
being damaged by bending of the electronic device.
[0171] Moreover, when the electronic device (e.g., the electronic
device 101 of FIG. 7A) according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure includes a protection member (an adhesive layer,
a cushion layer, or a heat-dissipation layer), according to an
embodiment, the first protection member may be disposed on the rear
surface of the first magnetic shielding member and a second
protection member may be disposed on the rear surface of the second
magnetic shielding member, thereby preventing the protection member
from being damaged by bending of the electronic device.
[0172] Meanwhile, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device
101 of FIG. 7A) according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure may include a processor (e.g., the processor 120 of FIG.
1). The processor 120 may execute software to control at least one
other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the
electronic device 101 connected with the processor 120 and may
process or compute various data. For example, the processor 120 may
be disposed in the first housing 310 and/or the second housing 320,
and may be electrically (or operatively) connected to the flexible
display 200 and the touch panel 210.
[0173] According to an embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., the
electronic device 101 of FIG. 7A) may further include a memory
(e.g., the memory 130 of FIG. 1). The memory 130 may store various
data used by at least one component (e.g., the processor 120 of
FIG. 1) of the electronic device 101. The memory 130 may be
operatively connected to the processor 120. For example, the memory
130 may store instructions, when executed, for causing the
processor 120 to detect the folded status, the unfolded status, or
the intermediate status of the foldable housing 300 by using the at
least one sensor and to differently control the display 200 based
on at least a part of the sensed status.
[0174] The processor 120 may provide a command or data received
from at least one of the flexible display 200 or the touch panel
210 to a volatile memory of the memory 130, process a command or
data stored in the volatile memory, and store resulting data in a
non-volatile memory.
[0175] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an input method with
respect to the electronic device 101 using the input device 150
(e.g., a stylus pen), according to various embodiments of the
present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a conceptual view showing a method
of recognizing an input of the input device 150 in a certain region
(e.g., a first region) of a display, according to various
embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is a conceptual view
showing a method of recognizing an input of the input device 150 in
a folding region (e.g., the folding region 203 of FIG. 2) of a
display, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0176] Referring to FIGS. 14 through 16 together, the processor
(e.g., processor 120 of FIG. 1) may independently process
recognition of an input on the first touch panel 211 or the second
touch panel 212. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may
process recognition in a folding region (e.g., the folding region
203 of FIG. 2) of the foldable housing (e.g., the foldable housing
300 of FIG. 2) by determining levels of signals input through the
first touch panel 211 and the second touch panel 212, respectively,
based on instructions stored in the memory 130.
[0177] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, inputs to the first touch
panel 211 and the second touch panel 212 using the input device 150
may be performed independently, and it may be determined based on
the intensity of energy input through the input device 150, whether
the input device 150 is on the first touch panel 211, on the second
touch panel 212, or in a boundary point. For example, a position of
the input device 150 may be known from an intensity change of
electromagnetic induction energy through a reception (Rx) channel
of the first touch panel 211 or the second touch panel 212.
[0178] According to an embodiment, when the input device 150 is
positioned between the first touch panel 211 and the second touch
panel 212 or the input device 150 is dragged between the first
touch panel 211 and the second touch panel 212, the position of the
input device 150 may be known through the intensity change of the
electromagnetic induction energy received through the rightmost Rx
channel of the first touch panel 211 and the leftmost Rx channel of
the second touch panel 212.
[0179] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing unfolded statuses and
partially unfolded, intermediate statuses of an electronic device
101' including a single touch panel and the electronic device 101
including a dual-touch panel.
[0180] According to the present disclosure, by using the dual-type
touch panels 211 and 212 divided into two on the rear surface of
the flexible (or foldable) display 200, a lifespan problem in the
folding region may be overcome when a single-type touch panel 210'
is used. Moreover, by including a separate layer (e.g., a third
layer) that allows a loop pattern to pass at a position adjacent to
the folding region in the dual-type touch panels 211 and 212, the
widening of the sensing interval corresponding to the segmentation
of the touch panel may be minimized, thereby preventing recognition
performance of the touch panel from being degraded.
[0181] In addition, the electronic device 101 according to the
present disclosure enables simultaneous comparison of a signal
level of each touch panel in the folding region, thereby actively
performing coordinates processing.
[0182] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1)
includes a hinge; a foldable housing including a first housing
(e.g., first housing 310 of FIG. 7A) connected to the hinge (e.g.,
hinge 510 of FIG. 7A) and including a first surface (e.g., first
surface 311 of FIG. 7A) facing a first direction and a second
surface (e.g., second surface 312 of FIG. 7A) facing a second
direction opposite to the first direction; and a second housing
(e.g., second housing 320 of FIG. 7A) connected to the hinge,
including a third surface (e.g., third surface 321 of FIG. 7A)
facing a third direction and a fourth surface (e.g., fourth surface
322 of FIG. 7A) facing a fourth direction opposite to the third
direction, and being folded with the first housing around the
hinge; a flexible display (e.g., flexible display 200 of FIG. 7A)
viewed from an outside of at least one surface of the foldable
housing and extending from the first surface of the first housing
to the third surface of the second housing ; and a touch panel
(e.g., touch panel 210 of FIG. 7A) disposed adjacent to the
flexible display, in which the touch panel includes a first touch
panel disposed on the first surface of the first housing and a
second touch panel disposed on the third surface of the second
housing, and each of the first touch panel and the second touch
panel includes a first layer (e.g., first layer 211a of FIG. 10A or
FIG. 12) on which a pattern is formed, a second layer (e.g., second
layer 211b of FIG. 10A or FIG. 12) on which a pattern different
from the pattern formed on the first layer is formed, and a third
layer (e.g., third layer 211c of FIG. 10A or FIG. 12) electrically
connected to the pattern of the second layer.
[0183] According to various embodiments, the pattern formed on the
first layer may be electrically connected to the pattern formed on
the second layer, and a whole loop is formed by the pattern formed
on the first layer, the pattern formed on the second layer, and the
pattern formed on the third layer.
[0184] According to various embodiments, in an unfolded state, the
first layer may have, formed thereon, a conductive pattern facing a
fifth direction perpendicular to the first direction or the third
direction, and the second layer may have, formed thereon, a
conductive pattern facing a sixth direction perpendicular to the
fifth direction and perpendicular to the first direction or the
third direction.
[0185] According to various embodiments, the third layer, in a
folding region of the foldable housing, may be disposed on the
second surface of the second layer facing the second direction for
the first touch panel and facing the fourth direction for the
second touch panel.
[0186] According to various embodiments, the first layer and the
second layer may be formed to have substantially a same size as a
total size of the first touch panel or the second touch panel, and
the third layer is formed with a size smaller than sizes of the
first layer and the second layer and may extend adjacent to the
folding region of the foldable housing.
[0187] According to various embodiments, the first layer (e.g.,
first layer 211a of FIG. 10A), the second layer (e.g., second layer
211b of FIG. 10A) and the third layer (e.g., third layer 211c of
FIG. 10A) may be stacked on the first surface sequentially in the
second direction from a top of the first touch panel.
[0188] According to various embodiments, a plurality of first via
holes (e.g., first via holes 213 of FIG. 10B) may be formed
adjacent to the folding region of the foldable housing in the
second layer (e.g., second layer 211b of FIG. 10B), and a plurality
of second via holes (e.g., second via holes 215 of FIG. 10B) may be
formed in the third layer (e.g., third layer 211c of FIG. 10B) at
positions corresponding to positions in which the plurality of
first via holes are formed in the second layer (e.g., second layer
211b of FIG. 10B).
[0189] According to various embodiments, a plurality of bridge
patterns (e.g., bridge patterns B1, B2, and B3 of FIG. 10B)
connecting a pair of second via holes among the plurality of second
via holes may be formed in the third layer.
[0190] According to various embodiments, the second layer (e.g.,
second layer 211b of FIG. 12), the first layer (e.g., first layer
211a of FIG. 12) and the third layer (e.g., third 211c of FIG. 12)
may be stacked on the first surface sequentially in the second
direction from a top of the first touch panel.
[0191] According to various embodiments, the plurality of first via
holes (e.g., holes 213 of FIG. 12) may be formed adjacent to the
folding region of the foldable housing in the second layer, a
plurality of third via holes (e.g., third via holes 217 of FIG. 12)
may be formed in positions adjacent to the folding region of the
foldable housing and corresponding to the first via holes, and the
plurality of second via holes (e.g., second via holes 215 of FIG.
12) may be formed in positions corresponding to positions in which
the plurality of first via holes and the plurality of third via
holes are formed, in the third layer.
[0192] According to various embodiments, a first magnetic shielding
member (e.g., first magnetic shielding member 220 of FIG. 8) may be
disposed on the second surface of the first touch panel, and a
second magnetic shielding member (e.g., second magnetic shielding
member 220 of FIG. 8) may be disposed on the fourth surface of the
second touch panel.
[0193] According to various embodiments, a first protection member
(e.g., first protection member 230 of FIG. 6A) may be disposed on a
surface of the first magnetic shielding member opposite to a
surface of the magnetic shielding member disposed on the second
surface, and a second protection member (e.g., second protection
member 230 of FIG. 6A) may be disposed on a surface of the second
magnetic shielding member opposite to a surface of the second
magnetic shielding member disposed on the fourth surface.
[0194] According to various embodiments, the electronic device may
further include a first circuit board disposed inside the first
housing, a second circuit board disposed inside the second housing,
and a flexible circuit board connecting the first circuit board
with the second circuit board.
[0195] According to various embodiments, the electronic device may
further include a processor disposed in the first housing or the
second housing and electrically connected to the display and the
touch panel.
[0196] According to various embodiments, the electronic device may
further include a memory operatively connected to the processor, in
which the memory includes instructions, when executed, for causing
the processor to independently process recognition of an input on
the first touch panel or the second touch panel, and determine
levels of signals input through the first touch panel and the
second touch panel together to perform the recognition in a folding
region.
[0197] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
an electronic device may include a hinge; a foldable housing
including a first housing connected to the hinge and including a
first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing
a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a second
housing connected to the hinge, including a third surface facing a
third direction and a fourth surface facing a fourth direction
opposite to the third direction, and being folded with the first
housing around the hinge; a flexible display viewed from an outside
of at least one surface of the foldable housing and extending from
the first surface of the first housing to the third surface of the
second housing ; a touch panel disposed adjacent to the flexible
display; and a processor disposed in the first housing or the
second housing and electrically connected to the display and the
touch panel, in which the touch panel includes a first touch panel
disposed on the first surface of the first housing and a second
touch panel disposed on the third surface of the second housing, in
which the first touch panel includes a first-first layer on which a
pattern is formed, a first-second layer on which a pattern
different from the pattern formed on the first-first layer is
formed, and a first-third layer electrically connected to the
pattern of the first-second layer by using at least two conductive
vias, and the second touch panel includes a second-first layer on
which a pattern is formed, a second-second layer on which a pattern
different from the pattern formed on the second-first layer, and a
second-third layer electrically connected to the pattern of the
second-second layer by using at least two conductive vias.
[0198] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the first-first layer and the first-second layer may be formed with
substantially the same size as the entire size of the first touch
panel, the first-third layer may elongated adjacent to the folding
region of the foldable housing with an size smaller than that of
the first-first layer and the first-second layer, and the
second-first layer and the second-second layer may be formed with
substantially the same size as the entire size of the second touch
panel, and the second-third layer may be elongated adjacent to the
folding region of the foldable housing with an size smaller than
that of the second-first layer and the second-second layer, such
that in the unfolded status of the electronic device, the
first-third layer and the second-third layer may be disposed spaced
apart by a certain distance to face each other.
[0199] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
a plurality of bridge patterns connecting two different conductive
vias among the at least two conductive vias may be formed in the
first-third layer and the second-third layer.
[0200] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
a first magnetic shielding member may be disposed on a rear surface
of the first touch panel, and a second magnetic shielding member
may be disposed on a rear surface of the second touch panel.
[0201] According to various embodiments, the electronic device may
further include a memory operatively connected to the processor, in
which the memory includes instructions, when executed, for causing
the processor to independently process recognition of an input on
the first touch panel or the second touch panel and determine
levels of signals input through the first touch panel and the
second touch panel together to perform the recognition in a folding
region.
[0202] Although the present disclosure has been described with
various embodiments, various changes and modifications may be
suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the
present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *